Topical Encyclopedia
The term "brotherly" in the Bible often refers to the love, kindness, and affection that should exist among believers, akin to the natural affection found among siblings. This concept is deeply rooted in the teachings of both the Old and New Testaments, emphasizing the importance of unity, compassion, and mutual support within the community of faith.
Old Testament ContextIn the Old Testament, the idea of brotherly love is often illustrated through the relationships between literal brothers, though not always positively. For example, the account of Cain and Abel (
Genesis 4:1-16) serves as a cautionary tale about the consequences of jealousy and lack of brotherly love. Conversely, the reconciliation of Jacob and Esau (Genesis 33) highlights forgiveness and restoration in familial relationships.
The Hebrew word "ach" (אָח), meaning brother, is frequently used to denote not only biological relationships but also close kinship and alliances. The Israelites were often reminded to treat each other with fairness and compassion, as seen in
Leviticus 19:17-18, which commands, "You must not harbor hatred against your brother in your heart... Love your neighbor as yourself."
New Testament ContextThe New Testament expands on the concept of brotherly love, particularly within the context of the Christian community. The Greek word "philadelphia" (φιλαδελφία), meaning brotherly love, is used to describe the affection and care that should characterize relationships among believers.
Jesus Christ emphasized the importance of love among His followers. In
John 13:34-35 , He states, "A new commandment I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you also must love one another. By this everyone will know that you are My disciples, if you love one another."
The Apostle Paul frequently encouraged the early church to practice brotherly love. In
Romans 12:10 , he writes, "Be devoted to one another in brotherly love. Outdo yourselves in honoring one another." Similarly, in
1 Thessalonians 4:9 , Paul acknowledges the Thessalonians' love for each other, saying, "Now about brotherly love, you do not need anyone to write to you, because you yourselves have been taught by God to love one another."
The Apostle Peter also underscores the significance of brotherly love in the Christian life. In
1 Peter 1:22 , he exhorts believers, "Since you have purified your souls by obedience to the truth, so that you have a genuine love for your brothers, love one another deeply, from a pure heart."
Theological SignificanceBrotherly love is a reflection of the love that God has for humanity and is a fundamental aspect of Christian ethics. It is not merely an emotional affection but a deliberate choice to act in the best interest of others, demonstrating the transformative power of the Gospel. This love is a testimony to the world of the unity and distinctiveness of the Christian community, as believers are called to live out their faith through tangible acts of kindness, forgiveness, and service.
Practical ApplicationIn practical terms, brotherly love involves bearing one another's burdens (
Galatians 6:2), forgiving each other (
Ephesians 4:32), and encouraging one another (
Hebrews 10:24-25). It requires humility, patience, and a willingness to put others' needs above one's own. The call to brotherly love challenges believers to transcend cultural, social, and personal barriers, fostering a community that reflects the love of Christ.
Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary
1. (
a.) Of or pertaining to brothers; such as is natural for brothers; becoming to brothers; kind; affectionate; as, brotherly love.
2. (adv.) Like a brother; affectionately; kindly.
International Standard Bible Encyclopedia
BROTHERLYbruth'-er-li ('ach, "brother"; philadelphia, "brotherly love"): Like a brother in all the large human relationships indicated above; e.g. the early friendly and fraternal alliance between Tyre and Israel as illustrated by "brotherly covenant" between David and Solomon, and Hiram, king of Tyre (2 Samuel 5:111 Kings 5:12), and repudiated in a later generation by the treachery of Tyre (Amos 1:9).
SeeBROTHERLY KINDNESS (LOVE).
BROTHERLY KINDNESS; BROTHERLY LOVE
kind'-nes (the King James Version2 Peter 1:7), or LOVE (the King James VersionRomans 12:101 Thessalonians 4:9;Hebrews 13:1; philadelphia):
1. As Moral Ideal:
In the Revised Version (British and American), "love of the brethren" in all places, and so in the King James Version of1 Peter 1:22, thus defining the disposition as love, and its objects as brethren. Since God is Father and men are His sons, they are therefore brethren of one another. As sonship is the most essential factor in man's right relation to God, so is brotherhood in his relation to his fellow-man. Brotherhood is first known as the relation between sons of the same parent, a relation of tender affection and benevolence. It becomes gradually extended to kindred, and to members of the same tribe or nation. And the Christian ideal of society is that a similar relation should exist between all men without limit or distinction. Agape, "love" (see CHARITY), is the word in the New Testament that generally denotes this ideal. "Thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself" is the whole law of conduct as between man and man (Matthew 22:39, 40); and neighbor includes every man within one's reach (Luke 10:29), even enemies (Matthew 5:44Luke 6:35). Without the love of man, the love of God is impossible, but "he that abideth in love abideth in God" (1 John 4:16, 20).
2. As Actual Between Christians:
But man's sonship to God may be potential or actual. He may not respond to God's love or know His Fatherhood. Likewise love to man may not be reciprocated, and therefore may be incomplete. Yet it is the Christian's duty, like God, to maintain his disposition of love and benevolence to those that hate and curse him (Luke 6:27, 28). But within the Christian community, love should respond to love, and find its fulfillment, for there all men are, or should be, God's sons actually, "because the love of God hath been shed abroad in our hearts, through the Holy Spirit which was given unto us" (Romans 5:5). And this mutual love within the Christian brotherhood (1 Peter 5:9) is called philadelphia.
3. Stoic Teaching:
This twofold ideal of social morality as universal benevolence and mutual affection had been foreshadowed by the STOICS (which see). Men as citizens of the world should adopt an attitude of justice and mercy toward all men, even slaves; but within the community of the "wise" there should be the mutual affection of friendship.
4. Christian Advance on Heathen Thought:
Christianity succeeded in organizing and realizing in intense and practical fellowship the ideal that remained vague and abstract in the Greek schools: "See how these Christians love one another." It was their Master's example followed, and His commandment and promise fulfilled: "Love one another. as I have loved you.; by this shall all men know that ye are my disciples" (John 13:14, 34, 35). Paul in his earliest epistle bears witness that the Thessalonians practice love "toward all the brethren that are in all Macedonia," even as they had been taught of God, but urges them to "abound more and more" (1 Thessalonians 4:9, 10). For the healing of differences, and to build up the church in order and unity, he urges the Romans "in love of the brethren (to) be tenderly affectioned one to another" (Romans 12:10). Christians must even "forbear one another in love" (Ephesians 4:2) and "walk in love, even as Christ also loved you" (Ephesians 5:2Philippians 2:1, 2). It involves some suffering and sacrifice. The author of the Epistle to the He recognizes the presence of "love of the brethren" and urges that it may continue (Hebrews 13:1). It is the direct result of regeneration, of purity and obedience to the truth (1 Peter 1:22, 23). It proceeds from godliness and issues in love (2 Peter 1:7). "Love of the brethren" (agape) is the one practical topic of John's epistles. It is the message heard from the beginning, "that we should love one another"1 John 3:11, 23. It is the test of light and darkness (1 John 2:10); life and death (1 John 3:14); children of God or children of the devil (1 John 3:10;1 John 4:7-12). Without it there can be no knowledge or love of God (1 John 4:20), but when men love God and obey Him, they necessarily love His children (1 John 5:2). No man can be of God's family, unless his love extends to all its members.
T. Rees
LOVE, BROTHERLY
SeeBROTHERLY LOVE.
Greek
5360. philadelphia -- the love of brothers,brotherly love... the love of brothers,
brotherly love. Part of Speech: Noun, Feminine Transliteration:
philadelphia Phonetic Spelling: (fil-ad-el-fee'-ah) Short Definition
...5361. philadelphos -- loving one's brother
... Cognate: 5361 (from 5384 , "affectionate friend" and 80 , "brother") -- "brotherly,"
referring to the love between fellow family-members -- ie () people in...
3675. homophron -- agreeing
... 3675 ("of the same perspective") is used only in 1 Pet 3:8: "To sum up, all of you
be ['of one mind,' 3675 ], sympathetic,brotherly, kindhearted, and humble...
Strong's Hebrew
283. Achyo -- "brotherly," the name of several Israelites... 282, 283. Achyo. 284 . "
brotherly," the name of several Israelites.
Transliteration: Achyo Phonetic Spelling: (akh-yo') Short Definition: Ahio.
...291. Achyan -- "brotherly," a Manassite
... "brotherly," a Manassite. Transliteration: Achyan Phonetic Spelling: (akh-yawn')
Short Definition: Ahian.... From 'ach;brotherly; Achjan, an Israelite -- Ahian....
251. ach -- a brother
... nephew* (2), other (7), relative (7), relatives (80). another,brotherly;
kindred, like, other. A primitive word; a brother (used in...
265. Achoach -- a Benjamite
... Ahoah. By reduplication from 'ach;brotherly; Achoach, an Israelite -- Ahoah.
see HEBREW 'ach. 264, 265. Achoach. 266 . Strong's Numbers.
277. Achi -- "brother of Yah," an Israelite name
... name NASB Word Usage Ahi (2). Ahi. From 'ach;brotherly; Achi, the name of two
Israelites -- Ahi. see HEBREW 'ach. 276, 277. Achi. 278 . Strong's Numbers.
Library
ForBrotherly Love.
... SOCIAL AND DOMESTIC WORSHIP. 908. " ForBrotherly Love. 908. 7s. M. Wesley's
Coll. ForBrotherly Love. 1 God of love, we look...
Psalm 141. 2-5. Watchfulness, andBrotherly Reproof.
... THE Psalms of David, In Metre. Psalm 141. 2-5. Watchfulness, andbrotherly
reproof. A morning or evening psalm. 1 My God, accept...
Psalm 133:1. CMBrotherly Love.
... THE Psalms of David, In Metre. Psalm 133:1. CMBrotherly love. 1 Lo! what
an entertaining sight Are brethren that agree, Brethren...
Psalm 133Brotherly Love.
... THE PSALMS OF DAVID PSALM 133Brotherly love. CMBrotherly love. Lo! what
an entertaining sight. Are brethren that agree! Brethren...
"LetBrotherly Love Continue. "
... Epistle of Peter to James. Chapter IX.""LetBrotherly Love Continue.".
"But I know that ye will do these things if you fix love...
Psalm 141 Watchfulness andBrotherly Reproof.
... THE PSALMS OF DAVID PSALM 141 Watchfulness andbrotherly reproof. v.2-5 LM.
Watchfulness andbrotherly reproof. A morning or evening Psalm....
Brotherly Love. Ps. 133.
... CHRISTIAN CHARACTER AND LIFE. 391. "Brotherly Love. Ps. 133. 391. HM
Montgomery.Brotherly Love. Ps.133. 1 How beautiful the...
"EachBrotherly Compassion that Man Hath on his Fellow Christians...
... THE THIRTEENTH REVELATION CHAPTER XXVIII "Eachbrotherly compassion that man hath
on his fellow Christians, with charity, it is Christ in him"....
LetBrotherly Love Continue. --Ps. cxxxiii.
... ORIGINAL HYMNS HYMN CXCIX. LetBrotherly Love continue."Ps. cxxxiii.... James Montgomery.
LetBrotherly Love continue."Psalm 133.p>. How beautiful the sight....
Second Sunday after Trinity Exhortation toBrotherly Love.
... Second Sunday After Trinity EXHORTATION TOBROTHERLY LOVE. Text: 1 John
3, 13-18. 13 Marvel... truth. EXHORTATION TOBROTHERLY LOVE. 1...
Thesaurus
Brotherly (8 Occurrences)... 1. (a.) Of or pertaining to brothers; such as is natural for brothers; becoming
to brothers; kind; affectionate; as,
brotherly love.
...BROTHERLY.
...Affection (30 Occurrences)
... 1 Peter 1:22 Seeing you have purified your souls in your obedience to the truth
through the Spirit in sincerebrotherly affection, love one another from the...
Lovingkindness (176 Occurrences)
... Cheyne (Encyclopedia Biblica) regards checedh as denoting paternal affection on
God's part, answered by filial and loyal affection andbrotherly love on man's...
Godliness (16 Occurrences)
... NIV). 2 Peter 1:7 and in godlinessbrotherly affection; and inbrotherly
affection, love. (WEB KJV WEY ASV DBY WBS NAS RSV NIV). 2...
Piety (21 Occurrences)
... 2 Peter 1:7 and in the piety thebrotherly kindness, and in thebrotherly kindness
the love; (YLT). Job 4:6 Isn't your piety your confidence?...
Ahio (6 Occurrences)
... Easton's Bible DictionaryBrotherly. (1.) One of the sons of Beriah (1
Chronicles 8:14). (2.) One of the sons of Jehiel the Gibeonite...
Ahoah (1 Occurrence)
... Easton's Bible DictionaryBrotherly, one of the sons of Bela, the son of
Benjamin (1 Chronicles 8:4). He is also called Ahiah (ver....
Endurance (31 Occurrences)
... 2 Peter 1:7 along with power of endurance, godliness; along with godliness,brotherly
affection; and along withbrotherly affection, love. (WEY)....
Kindness (295 Occurrences)
... Int. Standard Bible Encyclopedia.BROTHERLY KINDNESS;BROTHERLY LOVE.... (WEY). 2 Peter
1:7 And to godlinessbrotherly kindness; and tobrotherly kindness charity....
Commandment (209 Occurrences)
... While it is love, it is also a commandment of Christ, calling forth the joyous
obedience of believers. See alsoBROTHERLY LOVE. T. Rees.... SeeBROTHERLY LOVE....
Resources
What is brotherly kindness? | GotQuestions.orgWhat is love? What is the definition of love? | GotQuestions.orgWhat does the Bible say about how to handle a sibling rivalry? | GotQuestions.orgBrotherly: Dictionary and Thesaurus | Clyx.comBible Concordance •
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